Things You'll Need:
- A Band
- A place to play (gig)
- Instruments/Equipment
- Common sense
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Step 1
Wingman: You owe him a beer since he's watching your back.BRING A WINGMAN: The wingman will be a trustworthy friend that you can rely on to do a very important thing--count heads at the door. Sure, this is a boring and fairly thankless job, but if your contract with the club owner states that you get paid via attendance, he/she is a necessity. Have the wingman arrive early with you (at least pay his way in, you cheapskate), put a beer in his/her hand and position them near the entrance. If they are mentally inclined, let them count heads as they pay at the door; if they are not, make them check-mark a small paper tablet. The owner will know his purpose (they're not stupid) and will realize that you mean business. This isn't a 100% guarantee that you'll get fair pay, but most club owners will man up when they see a person counting heads. Worst case scenario, you'll know not to trust the sleazy owner for your next gig.
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Step 2
Smile, Mr. Alcoholic...you just cost the band more than they made.BEWARE THE BEER TAB: Your band is rocking on-stage, lights are flashing, everybody is having a good time. Have a drink, Mr. Rock Of Ages, this is your night...or not. Many clubs have a running beer tab that is easy to pitfall into. Basically, they take what you are owed for the band performance and subtract the amount of alcohol you consume at a leisurely rate from the bottom line (and no, you won't typically get a discount for being a musician). At the end of the gig you may find yourself surrounded by empty bottles in a drunken stupor actually owing the club for your wild ride. Drink responsibly, indeed.
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Step 3
See the moustache? The butterfly collar? Distinct warning signs of a sleazy band manager.GET ~gulp~ A MANAGER: For those that really want to throw their money away, you may want to look into a band manager. Basically, what this creep does is book you shows (crappy or awesome, depending on the particular band manager's ability), negotiates--ha! --a price for your band' s live performance, and then takes a large percentage of your band' s earned wages from the pot. A good manager can get your band booked at some great venues, an awful manager can get your band screwed all the way back into the garage. If you opt to go the manager route, please do your research with other local bands who may know the person. Otherwise, you may be better off doing the management between the actual members of your band.
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Step 4
Go ahead, dive in. But make sure you read the fine print before signing in your own blood.I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT: Never, EVER "take their word for it". If the owner doesn't make you sign a contract, have one printed up, yourself. Both parties sign, and make sure an outside party signs as a witness to the event. Also, you may look into the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) who, for a substantial price, can cover your rump in case of botched contracts. If the club owner seems offended by the idea of a contract with your band playing live music, tell him to get over it or move on. Frankly, this is a business where people get paid for entertainment. The quicker you take a look at playing music as a business in every shape and form, the better off you'll be in the long run. And the chances are less of your band getting screwed over in the process.
